The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power Chapter 331: Stick's Job Interview

Prince Adam's POV:

When Stick heard the word "captain," one eyebrow lifted.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he slowly spat the piece of grass from his mouth into the trash can beside him. Then he leaned forward, both hands on the desk, and looked at me straight in the eye.

"Your Highness," he said calmly, "you're a straightforward man, so I'll be the same."

He grinned, showing a row of white teeth. "I don't have big dreams. I don't care about glory or rising in rank. I'm staying at the Royal Court for one reason only—money."

He rubbed his thumb and fingers together in a clear counting gesture.

"Those old men at the monastery are still waiting for me to send money back to fix up the place. So, let's not talk about honor or duty. I'll just ask one thing—how much does this captain position pay?"

Julian, standing beside me, frowned at the blunt question.

Clearly, Julian, a butler who valued manners, was unaccustomed to such rough talk.

Julian cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Mr. Dunn, my captain would receive very generous treatment. Besides regular salary, there are monthly allowances, seasonal clothing, holiday bonuses—"

"Stop, stop!"

Stick cut him off with an impatient wave. He rolled his eyes. "Sir, the way you talk is more boring than a priest's sermon. What does ‘very generous' mean? How much are the allowances? What's the bonus? Can you give me real numbers? I've heard enough empty promises."

Julian choked on his words, his expression stiffening.

I couldn't help but laugh.

This kid reminded me of Cindy. Both of them were direct. They didn't move unless they saw clear benefits.

"Julian, that's enough," I said, raising a hand.

I stood up and walked over to Stick, meeting his gaze.

"I like your honesty," I told him.

"Since you're being direct, I'll be direct too. 50 gold coins a month. If the guard performs well at the end of the year, you'll get a bonus equal to three months' pay. Weapons, food, clothes—everything is covered by the manor. If there's an extra reward from special missions, you'll get your share. Is that enough to support your old monastery?"

When he heard 50 gold coins, Stick's eyes went wide. His jaw nearly dropped.

For comparison, even a captain that commanded 1,000 soldiers in the Onyx Legion only made a little over 10 gold coins a month.

My offer was extremely high.

Still, he forced himself to stay calm. His eyes shifted as he thought.

"Your Highness, that sounds good. But …"

He scratched his head and looked troubled. "I'm used to being laid-back. I hate trouble. Building a whole guard—that's a huge responsibility. Recruiting, testing, housing, handling disputes… If I manage all that, when will I have time to train?"

He gave a sly smile. "Honestly, I was thinking of talking to Cindy. She's rich now. If I become her personal bodyguard, she might pay just as much. And I wouldn't have to deal with all this extra work."

I cursed in my heart. Snake!

He was obviously using Cindy to push me. He knew I wouldn't let her spend money carelessly. And he knew just as well that I wouldn't want him showing off in front of her either.

"You're overthinking it."

Julian finally found his chance to speak. He gave a small, cold smile, his voice carrying the pride of a seasoned butler.

"Captain, what exactly do you take the manor for? The small matters of recruitment will be handled by our personnel department. Logistics and housing will be under my supervision."

He adjusted his glasses and continued in an even tone. "Your task is simple—lead and train. Think of yourself as the instructor. Shape the new recruits into warriors who can fight and kill. As for the complicated details, you won't need to trouble yourself with any of them."

Stick's eyes grew brighter.

"Just training?" he asked to confirm.

"Exactly," Julian replied calmly. "We've already marked off land in the backyard. Next year, we'll start building barracks and a training ground for you and your guard unit." He paused, then added, "Even while everything is being prepared—before the full team is assembled—the manor will still pay you your full monthly salary." A faint smile touched his lips. "So, are you happy with this arrangement?"

Full pay without lifting a finger? And a whole team handling logistics and daily chores for him?

Easy money, almost too good to be true. It felt tailor-made for someone like him who didn't want to work too hard but definitely liked getting paid.

"I'm in!"

Stick slapped the table. He was completely at ease.

The defiant look on his face melted into a wide, shining grin, all his teeth on display.

"Your Highness, you should've said so earlier. I'll take the job."

He gave a sharp, respectful salute, his expression turning serious. "Don't worry. I like gold, sure—but I don't break my word. As long as I'm on duty, even if the Vampire King shows up with a full army, he won't set a single foot inside your manor."

I watched his confidence rise and gave a satisfied nod.

Fifty gold coins for a mage, a skilled fighter, and a loyal guard all in one? That was a serious bargain.

With him here, Cindy's safety just gained another solid layer of protection.